“A good start would be banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 (instead of 2040 at present).”

The Chancellor won praise, though for appointing the Cambridge Economics Prof Partha Dasgupta to lead a global commission to estimate the global value of nature in economic terms.

It’s hoped this body will influence governments’ view of nature in the way the Stern review of climate economics in 2006 influenced discussion on climate change globally.

Reacting to measures outlined in today’s Spring Statement, Friends of the Earth’s Dave Timms said: “Instead of putting climate change at the heart of economic policy-making, the Chancellor is merely fiddling in the margins while the planet burns.

“The nation’s children are calling out for tough action to cut emissions, Mr Hammond must listen harder to the lesson they’re teaching him.”

Image copyright Getty Images Climate change poses a growing threat to the glaciers found in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges, according to a new report. The study found that if CO2 emissions are not cut rapidly, two thirds of these giant ice fields could disappear. Even if the world limits the temperature rise […]

Image copyright NASA HQImage caption Alan Stern and Alice Bowman celebrate the arrival of New Horizons’ signal The US space agency’s New Horizons probe has made contact with Earth to confirm its successful flyby of the icy world known as Ultima Thule. The encounter occurred some 6.5bn km (4bn miles) away, making it the most […]